Went to see him a few a weeks back and despite having an annoying MC and falling into the "lets play drum'n'bass for the last 15 minutes of the set" habit, it was great. He's got such a distinctive pastiche quality to all his music, brilliant!

I kind of miss the massive grimey abrasiveness of something like 'Gullybrook Lane', but his newer material is sounding pretty smooth and sophisticated - in a great, post-'Gin & Juice' way, as opposed to watered down or dull.

There's another huge track, 'My Trance Girl', which should hopefully find its way onto there as well.

I know I said this at the start of last year as well, but if the album drops this year, 2010 could well be his year. Serious crossover potential. Although Guido's music arguably does the pop/RnB thing a tiny bit better, Joker's feels like the more rounded entity.

I drunkenly harassed him about it a while ago, and he said he's doing some more stuff with singers as well, which should be amazing, given that Beautiful Complication is one of the best things that came out last year. Footcrab.

The bit towards the end where it suddenly picks up the pace and hits a proper two-step vibe for a few seconds is a great motivator, really makes you pick up the pace. Well, until you collapse on the front doorstep, unable to get your key into the lock properly.

Reviewing it for DiS, so expect a rant in forthcoming weeks. But suffice to say, it's everything I'd hoped for. A real grower as well, and conforms to the same pattern that a lot of her productions do - far more slow-burning and considered than her DJ sets but with the same wild, divergent kind of energy.

All have really interesting hyperfunk workouts in there own ways. Grime beats are doing ALOT right now, if I want some hype in a DJ set I'm going to reach for stuff like this instead of wobbly halfstep dubstep, its just so much more HYPE!

but I think that was the first time he let a recording of it out. DJs keep tracks like this to just their clubs sets for ages maybe a year or so... before even thinking about getting them on the radio or on recorded sets. Let alone releasing them. Dubplate cultre and all that, keeps the clubs sets exciting and more of a one off experiance like a live event.

I see where he's coming from, but this still does it for me. It just works. His first load of 12"s are insanly exciting though and Gully Brook Lane is THE Joker go to joint still. But I like that he's tweaking his style gradualy rather than making big leaps. Stash grew on me the more I heard it too even though at first I didn't think it was far off Purple City or Re-Up. There is still magic in his ideas and all the tracks still sound pretty damn fresh in the clubs. I wana hear if he's got any more digidesign's locked up somewhere though that track is sublime.

I do know what he means, but I do have a real soft spot for 'Tron'. Maybe it's because it's been all over the clubs for so long -- I would say that it's a lot more repetitive than a lot of his recent things, built around a really simple and straightforward melody, but it's hugely addictive.

I wonder whether it's because so many other producers are following his style - and as the reviewer says, he's accepted a load of random remix commissions - that its impact has been watered down a little. Admittedly, not much he's done of late has the same physical and mental impact as 'Gully Brook Lane' or 'Purple City' (and 'Gully Brook Lane' is, as you say, THE definitive Joker tune), but I'd definitely say that 'Stash' manages to reach that mark. Agreed with him on the City Hopper 12" though, that's the first Joker thing I didn't bother grabbing on wax.

its fun to mix with, but it does feel morer like a stripped back DJ tool rather than a full on Joker track.

I think Tron, My Trance Girl and There She Goes all see Joker twisting his style up a little further. As he adds those hyper synths that sound more anthemic. Its big room stuff, but its good big room stuff. It'd be a shame if he only did that kind of thing but I doubt he will.

its been around for ages and most of the big DJs have had it for a long time too. So if you went to a dusbtep night you might hear every DJ play it, which is fun for a while but not for a year none stop haha.